Middlebury recorded the first three goals Sunday and held off a furious Hamilton comeback attempt in the final minutes for a 3-2 NESCAC road victory over the Continentals in women's soccer action on Love Field. The Panthers (7-5, 3-4) return home for a match Saturday against Bates at noon, while Hamilton (8-4, 3-4) will travel to Colby on the same day.

Middlebury scored the only goal of the first half in the 37th minute. On a pass from Molly Parizeau, Claire Nishioka picked up her third goal of the season when she sent a long shot from the right side past Hamilton goalie Rachel Cooley. In the 27th minute a long pass from Bea Blackwell to the near post was just outside the reach of Katie Kreider and gathered by Middlebury goalie Emily Eslinger. Six minutes later, Kreider's pass to the far post eluded a charging Blackwell and rolled over the end line.

The score remained a 1-0 edge for Middlebury until the second half when the Panthers added two goals in a three-minute span. Moments after Cooley punched away a long free kick by Jamie Soroka, the Middlebury junior regained possession and sent a cross from the left sideline to the right post where two Panthers were converging. After collecting a pass from Katherine Hobbs, Amy Martin cut inside and sent it into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Carter Talgo played a ball forward from the top of the box, and she sent a ball past a charging Cooley for the score. Talgo's goal was the second of the season and gave Middlebury a 3-0 edge.

Down by three, the first Continental goal came in the 78th minute when Bea Blackwell sent a corner kick to the far post. Victoria Freeman headed the ball over the reach of Eslinger for her third goal of the season.

Seven minutes later, Hamilton made it a one-goal game on Darby Philbrick's first career goal. Eslinger made a diving save of a long shot by Rachel Hirsch, but the ball squirted off her hands toward the left post where Philbrick tapped in the rebound.

Hamilton had two opportunities for the tying goal in the final three minutes. A shot by Hirsch was blocked in front, and Eslinger saved a hard shot by Katja Dunlap with 1:44 left in regulation.

Eslinger was credited with one save, while Cooley recorded six. Middlebury held a 12-7 advantage in shots, while the Continentals possessed a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.